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Abbabiya “Biya” was born in Asela, Ethiopia, where he used to run to school about five miles total back and forth. At age 13 in 2007, his father moved the family to Houston, Texas, where he lived his first two years in the United States. When his mother took a job in Iowa, Biya lived in Sioux City and then spent a year in Minneapolis with his aunt. While in Minnesota, he got his start in competitive running on the track team and in his senior year back in Iowa, he also went out for cross country.

Biya ran his first two years in college at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge where he was an NJCAA Cross Country All-American and the NJCAA Half Marathon National Champion in 2011. His running credentials attracted an offer from the University of Oklahoma where he spent his junior and senior years and posted times of 3:46 in the 1500m, 4:06 in the mile, 8:04 in the 3000m, 14:01 in the 5000m and 28:42 in the 10,000m. In addition to his exploits on the track for the Sooners, Biya earned a degree in Athletic Administration and Coaching.

His accomplishments include three third place finishes at the Big 12 Indoor Championships in the 3000m (twice) and 5000m, and a second place finish in the 2014 Big 12 Cross Country Championships. His best time at 8k cross country was 23:22.